This popped into my head. One of the few "get a young guy for Pierce" trades that seems plausible. Gotta throw in contracts balances, etc., but a deal that features those two makes some sense.

MN lineup of:
Love
Pekovic
Rubio
Pierce
Wes Johnson

that's pretty [dang] good given that Pekovic has turned into a double double machine including 30/10 tonight.

I'm not seeing why the Celtics make this trade unless they know for a fact they can land Howard and more with the free cap space.

Derrick Williams would be an excellent return in a trade for Paul Pierce.

I'd be shocked if Minnesota were willing to do this though.

I agree, think we'd need to throw in a bit extra and haven't looked at the contracts coming back. Could throw in the later of our two picks and maybe even Wilcox as another solid rotation veteran big.

I think everyone on Celticsblog trying to think of plausible returns for Allen and Pierce, and this one seems doable. Like the Gay idea as well.

Huge Downgrade in talent. Pierce is 1000x the player Derrick Williams is or will ever be. Just because Mr. Williams is younger player, we shouldn't just give away the Captain for nothing. And on top of that people want to add draft picks. What the hell is going on here?

btw Michael Beasley>Derrick Williams

Agree with you in the first part.

I was under the impression that Beasley was...trash. I don't follow the Wolves much but I know that he's playing the 3 when he should be playing the 4 (maybe the reason why he sucks?). People are so repulsed whenever someone brings up getting Beasley and the T-Wolves look like they're trying to get rid of him...Maybe we should try for Beasley when he's an FA? *gulp*

Huge Downgrade in talent. Pierce is 1000x the player Derrick Williams is or will ever be. Just because Mr. Williams is younger player, we shouldn't just give away the Captain for nothing. And on top of that people want to add draft picks. What the hell is going on here?

btw Michael Beasley>Derrick Williams

You sound pretty sure, and i think most people think this guy is still a potential 20/10 guy in the next few years and could be the #2 or #3 guy on a championship team. Not sure why you are so ready to write off the #2 pick in last year's draft. We are trying to find the core guys on the next Celtics title team, and he could be one. Unless Howard comes, Pierce definitely will NOT. 

Beasley is a complete headcase. Would never trade anything of any value for him and there's NO WAY you could build around him. He can't be relied on.

NO CHANCE that the T-Wolves make this trade.  You don't trade the guy you just drafted second over all for a 34 year old.  That's foolish on the t-wolves part.

If you take away the age factor Celtics would get robbed in the trade. Talent level are miles apart.

Quote from: MBz on February 18, 2012, 02:21:02 AM

NO CHANCE that the T-Wolves make this trade.  You don't trade the guy you just drafted second over all for a 34 year old.  That's foolish on the t-wolves part.

If you take away the age factor Celtics would get robbed in the trade. Talent level are miles apart.

Wait, the WHOLE POINT is the age factor. (Why don't we trade Rondo for Wilt Chamberlain, if you take away the age factor, he's got MUCH more talent!). He was the #2 pick in the draft and he's still a likely 20/10 guy and all around solid citizen in future years. He's stuck behind Love for now.

I'm much more in the camp of others on this thread who say TWolves unlikely to do it and we'd have to offer more. A pick. Perhaps a player.

I'm saying that a starting lineup of Rubio, Johnson, Pierce, Love, Pekovic would be a load to handle. I think that team is pretty good. Am happy to throw in another player that can help them compete this year (Wilcox? Pietrus?) and a pick. Puts us firmly in the lottery and maintains our cap flexibility. Gives us a #3 guy on our next title team next to Rondo.

The Wolves aren't trading Williams.  They have been evaluating talent and spreading the minutes around so far this season, but last night Adelman must have wanted to win against his old team because, for the first time this year, he went with an 8-man rotation, and Williams is in it.

Johnson is by far the weak link in the Wolves' starting line-up: that's who they'll try to upgrade.  Pierce would not be a bad fit for them--the Wolves need a "closer" as well as a floor-spacer--but the available desirable players from the Wolves are the following: Johnson, Barea (that experiment failed fast), Darko, and Ellington.  Randolph is trash but he's surely available too.  They're the players a team with an available "upgrade" SF would have to accept from the Wolves in a trade.

Pierce is a huge upgrade over Johnson and Pierce is the type of player they need to get into the playoffs and possibly win a playoff series.  They need a closer and could certainly use the veteran leadership Pierce would provide.  His defense would also be incredibly useful on the wing.  In order to get a huge upgrade like Pierce they would have to give up something of value and that is Williams.  I really think they would move Williams for Pierce.  Barea is hurt so I'm not sure I'd call that a failed experiment yet, but I'm sure he is movable.  And it is clear that Beasley is moving on.

Frankly, I wouldn't want Barea and if the Wolves would trade Beasley and Williams for Pierce, I would absolutely make that move.  It gives the C's Pierce's long term replacement and a guy they can take a flyer on for the rest of the year to see if he develops into something.  It also frees up another 10 million or so in cap space next summer (if you let Beasley walk) and thus would clearly put the Celtics into 2 max contract range (Williams and Howard would then be possible for example).